Flower Essences

Would you like to learn how to make your own flower essences? This is such a lovely activity to do with the kids. Or you might like to do this cozy activity on a warm afternoon.

Flower essences are often used for mindfulness, emotional reflection, or personal rituals. Making your own can be a meaningful way to slow down, connect with nature, and practice intention-setting. These are not as a medical treatment, but as a personal or spiritual practice.

Flower essences are made by infusing the energetic qualities of flowers into water using sunlight. Unlike herbal teas or oils, flower essences are not about physical chemicals from the plant, but about symbolic and reflective connection with nature.

Many people use them as part of journaling, meditation, or creative rituals.

Simply go into the garden and find a flower in the garden that brings you joy, and then create your own essence from it to use as a botanical pick-me-up.

What You’ll Need

A cup of purified water

A clean glass bowl

A glass bottle

A strainer

Fresh flowers (Important: Never use flowers that are poisonous, sprayed with chemicals, or picked from polluted areas)

Step One

Head out into the garden or a nice park. Take a few deep breaths and enjoy connecting with your environment. Now go and gently select any flowers that you are drawn to and would like to pick. This could be based on its colour, symbolism, or simply how it makes you feel. Take a moment to notice it—its shape, scent, and surroundings. Around 3-5 flowers are enough.

 Step Two

Fill a clean glass bowl with a cup of water. Gently remove the stems and then put your flowers into the surflace of the glass bowl with the water. Try not to touch them too much—some people prefer using a leaf or stem to place them.

Step Three

Place your flowers outside or on a windowsill into direct sunlight for a few hours. You may like to light a candle beside the bowl and set an intention for your DIY flower essences. Leave the bowl in sunlight for about 2–4 hours. This is often seen as the time when the flower’s essence is transferred to the water.

 Step Four

Carefully remove the flower and return it to nature if possible. What’s left is your flower essence infusion. You may wish to also use a strainer if any flowers remain in your homemade flower essences.

Step Five

Pour the water into a clean glass bottle or jar. Label it with the flower name and date, and add cup vinegar or brandy. If you are making your flower essences with children, make sure to use vinegar. It will keep for up to a month in the fridge.

These are so many uses for your essences. You may like to add a few drops to candles, bath and creams. Or you may like to put a drop on the crown of your head before journalling or creating art.